Echinacea plant named ‘Amber Mist’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Amber Mist’, particularly distinguished by yellow-orange colored ray florets, floriferous, compact habit, healthy, abundant foliage, and good mildew resistance, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Echinacea hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Amber Mist’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant botanically known as Echinacea hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Amber Mist’. The new cultivar originated from an open pollination in 2005 in a nursery location in Hillegom, The Netherlands between unknown male and female Echinacea plants. The nursery location was densely populated with Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea paradoxa and Echinacea hybrids.

The new cultivar was selected from the results of the open pollination in 2007 in Hillegom, The Netherlands. Asexual reproduction of the new Echinacea by in vitro propagation in a controlled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands since the summer of 2008, has shown that the unique features of the Echinacea are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Hillegom, The Netherlands:

-   -   1. Yellow-orange colored ray florets;     -   2. Floriferous;     -   3. Compact habit;     -   4. Healthy, abundant foliage; and     -   5. Good mildew resistance.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Matthew Saul’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,652. However, in side by side comparisons in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new cultivar ‘Amber Mist’ differ from plants of ‘Matthew Saul’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are more floriferous than plants         of ‘Matthew Saul’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a foliage color different         from plants of ‘Matthew Saul’;     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a ray floret color different         from plants of ‘Matthew Saul’; and     -   4. Plants of the new cultivar have longer ray florets than         plants of ‘Matthew Saul’

In addition, plants of the new cultivar ‘Amber Mist’ are similar to ‘Pink Mist’, pending U.S. Plant patent application No. 12/592,634. However, in side by side comparisons in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new cultivar ‘Amber Mist’ differ from plants of ‘Pink Mist’ in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Amber Mist’. The plant was field grown for approximately 1 year in Hillegom, The Netherlands in an outdoor nursery location. Plants were transplanted into a one-gallon container for photography purposes.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Amber Mist’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Amber Mist’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Hillegom, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken in August 2009 on 1-year-old field grown plants which were planted and grown outdoors in daytime temperatures between 14° C. and 28° C. and nighttime temperatures between 5° C. and 18° C. No pinching, growth retardants or photoperiodic treatments were used. Observations were made when the plants were in natural daylight conditions.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea hybrida cultivar ‘Amber Mist’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Unknown Echinacea sp.         -   Male parent.—Unknown Echinacea sp. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are             possible.         -   Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at             14° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately             30 days at 14° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate density, poorly branched. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 20 weeks from a rooted             tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 1 gallon container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Upright, herbaceous             perennial.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous, approximately 17 cm per             month in spring.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—Use as bedding plants or in             mixed-container plantings; at least tolerant to temperatures             up to 35° C. and hardy to USDA zone 4.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 52.3 cm. Width: Approximately 35.8 cm.         -   Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow             from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately             10.         -   Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect, 5° angle             from vertical. Shape: Rounded. Length to base of             inflorescence: Approximately 39.7 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 3.6 cm. Texture: Moderately pubescent with             short strigose hairs. Length of pubescence: Approximately             0.5 mm. Color of pubescence: 157D. Color of young and mature             stems: 144A to 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem becoming perpendicular             and subtending with age. Shape: Narrowly ovate, slightly             carinate. Margin: Entire, very slightly undulate. Apex:             Acute to long acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern:             Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 9.6 cm. Width             of mature leaf: Approximately 4.2 cm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Slightly glossy, moderately to densely             pubescent with short strigose hairs. Length of pubescence:             Approximately 0.3 mm. Color of pubescence: 157D. Color of             upper surface of young foliage: 137A to 137B with venation             of 144B. Color of lower surface of young foliage: 143A with             venation of 144B. Color of upper surface of mature foliage:             137A with venation of 144B. Color of lower surface of mature             foliage: 137C with venation of 144B.         -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 9.7 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Height: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Amber Mist’ continuously flowers from             early July to mid-September in The Netherlands.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 14 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.             Shape: Conical. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement:             Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance:             Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant: Approximately 30. Height:             Approximately 5.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 7.5 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length of             terminal peduncle: Approximately 6.9 cm. Length of fourth             peduncle: Approximately 8.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately             3.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent with short strigose             hairs. Length of pubescence: Approximately 0.5 mm. Color of             pubescence: 157D. Color: 144A to 144B.         -   Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 10. Shape: Flattened             globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length:             Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.2 cm. Color:             162A to 162B with a center of 143A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 24.             Arrangement: Slightly imbricate in a single whorl. Aspect:             Initially at acute angle to disc, becoming perpendicular at             maturity and subtending with age. Shape: Lanceolate to             narrowly elliptic. Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Emarginate to praemorse. Base: Cuneate. Length:             Approximately 3.5 cm. Width: Approximately 7.0 mm. Texture             of upper surface: Smooth, slightly ribbed longitudinally.             Texture of lower surface: Smooth, ribbed longitudinally.             Color of upper surface when first open: 23A. Color of lower             surface when first open: 19B to 19C. Color of upper surface             when fully open: 21B fades to 16A to 16B with age. Color of             lower surface when fully open: 14D.         -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 3.1 cm. Quantity             per inflorescence: Approximately 280. Arrangement: Spirally             arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin             of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused             into a tube. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper and             lower surfaces when first and fully open: 144A.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 1.1 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 9.0 mm. Color: 158D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 48.             Arrangement: In a three whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff.             Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, slightly curved towards             the peduncle. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.             Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of             lower or outer surface: Glabrous with margins moderately to             densely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Length of             pubescence: Approximately 0.3 mm. Color of pubescence: 157D.             Color of upper and lower surfaces: 138B to 138C.         -   Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc: 280. Shape:             Acicular. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Glabrous.             Color: Apex of N25A to N25B with mid-section of 143B and             base of 144D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong,             basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther             color: 200A to 202A. Filament length: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Filament color: 145C. Pollen amount: Moderate to abundant.             Pollen color: 17A. Gynoecium: Present on disc florets only.             Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately             6.0 mm. Stigma shape: Decurrent. Stigma color: 151B to 151C.             Style length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Style color: 151B to             151C. Ovary color: 145C to 145D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Good mildew resistance. No particular     resistance or susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to     date. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Amber Mist’, substantially as herein shown and described. 